HRC responded to the Trump-Pence Administration’s potential proposal for new rules that would allow healthcare workers to discriminate against patients based on gender identity and other factors.

On Wednesday, Politico reported that the Trump-Pence White House is currently reviewing a proposed Department of Health and Human Services regulation that would allow medical providers to refuse to perform abortions, treat transgender patients based on their gender identity, or provide any service if they claim a “moral” or religious objection.

“If adopted, this proposal would be another harmful attack on LGBTQ people by Donald Trump and Mike Pence. Health care workers have a professional and ethical obligation to provide health care to all who need it” said Sarah Warbelow, HRC Legal Director. “Every American deserves access to medically necessary health care, and that health care should not be determined by the personal opinions of individual health care providers or administrative staff. The Human Rights Campaign will fight this proposed rule–and all others like it–that seek to devalue the humanity of LGBTQ people.”

The proposed rule would create a new “division” in the civil rights office of HHS, which would provide staffing and other resources to enforce these troubling new standards — tying the hands of health care providers from taking any action against anti-LGBTQ employees who opt-out of critical procedures.

Mike Pence has a long history of discrimination against LGBTQ citizens in public accommodations. As Governor of Indiana, he tied up crucial HIV testing services in a scheme to defund Planned Parenthood and as vice president, has helped lead the charge behind the executive order granting a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people, and banning transgender service members in the military.

The Human Rights Campaign has always fought for the inclusion and affirmation of LGBTQ people in health care spaces and will continue to ensure bigotry has no place where the most vulnerable in our society seek help.

HRC TO LAUNCH 2ND EQUIDAD PROJECT TO RATE LGBTQ WORKPLACE INCLUSION IN CHILE: Today in Chile, HRC will kick off its groundbreaking partnership with Fundación Iguales & Pride Connection with an international launch of HRC’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the premier report tracking LGBT inclusion in the world’s largest companies. “Following the equality trend across the Americas, Chile is now taking a clear lead by investing in LGBT inclusion in the workplace, which is both fair and smart for business,” said Deena Fidas, Director of HRC Equidad MX and HRC’s Workplace Equality Program. “This partnership with Fundación Iguales demonstrates our commitment to deliver concrete results for LGBT employees in Chile and around the globe.” HRC has previously launched the CEI internationally in Mexico, marking the historic HRC Equidad MX initiative that works with leading employers in country to create more diverse and LGBT-inclusive workplaces. More from HRC.

BREAKING — POLITICO REPORTS TRUMP-PENCE TO ALLOW HEALTH WORKERS TO REFUSE TO TREAT TRANS PATIENTS: Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) and Jennifer Haberkorn (@jenhab) are reporting that the administration is considering a rule that would allow an exemption for health workers who “don’t want to perform abortions, refuse to treat transgender patients based on their gender identity or provide other services for which they have moral objections.” Sources tell Politico the rule would shield health workers and “punish organizations that don’t allow them to express their moral objections.” Read more at Politico.

HISTORIC — DEMOCRATS FLIP WISCONSIN STATE SENATE SEAT: HRC mobilized our 1,280 members and supporters in this district to get out the vote for State Senator-elect Patty Schachtner in this crucial election, flipping a seat that had been held by Republicans since the start of the century. By comparison, the margin of victory in this race was 1,600. In the 2016 election, Donald Trump won this district by 17 points. More from CNBC and The Washington Post.

TODAY IN OHIO — HRC, EQUALITY OHIO AND LOCAL ADVOCATES CALL ON LEGISLATORS TO PASS FAIRNESS ACT: Rep. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) will join representatives from HRC Ohio, Equality Ohio, the Ohio Business Competes Coalition and TransOhio for a press conference at 10:00 a.m. in The Ladies Gallery at the Ohio Statehouse, to call for passage of the Ohio Fairness Act. Ohio is one of 31 states that lack explicit state-level protections for all LGBTQ people, and ranked in the “High Priority to Achieve Basic Equality” category in HRC’s 2017 State Equality Index (SEI), which provides a comprehensive state-by-state analysis of laws and policies that affect LGBTQ people and their families.

A Jan. 31 hearing on the Fairness Act, introduced by Rep. Antonio, will be the first time in almost 10 years that legislators will formally consider non-discrimination protections for Ohio’s LGBTQ community.

The Daily Beast’s Samantha Allen (@SLAwrites) previews legislative attacks on the LGBTQ community. More from The Daily Beast.

TRUMP EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ATTACKS ON MEDIA WITH DEPLORABLE STUNT: Donald Trump doesn’t like it when he is held to account for his bigotry, discrimination, lies and undermining of our democracy. So, as is his troubling pattern, he is again planning to attack journalists and media outlets for performing their valuable jobs — ensuring that we have a free and open press to help maintain the integrity of our government. The work of journalists dedicated to holding our elected and appointed officials accountable has never been more important. More from HRC.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING WEDNESDAY — TRANSGENDER WOMAN “SENT HOME TO A DEADLY NIGHTMARE BY TRUMP’S AMERICA”: Cristel was placed in a detention center by the Trump-Pence Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) forces, who plan to send her back to her native country of El Salvador. Cristel sought asylum in the U.S. after being targeted by violent gangs who threatened to murder her because she is trans. If forced to return to El Salvador? “They are going to kill me,” she told reporter Josefina Salomón (@josefinasalomon). More from The Washington Post.

GRUESOME MURDER OF LGBTQ TEEN MAY BE HATE CRIME: Authorities have arrested Samuel Woodward on suspicion of murdering Blaze Bernstein. Bernstein, a college student, was found with more than 20 stab wounds. This horrific and tragic crime must be thoroughly investigated as reported hate violence continues to rise nationwide. More from The Los Angeles Times.

DOVER, N.H., POLICE CHIEF CALLS FOR LAW PROTECTING TRANS PEOPLE: “Right now, under New Hampshire state law, there are no measures that explicitly protect transgender people from discrimination in the workplace, in access to housing, and in public spaces like restaurants, shops, and government buildings. That’s wrong,” writes Dover, N.H. Police Chief Anthony Colarusso in a piece for Seacoast Online supporting a bill that would provide such protections. More from Seacoast Online.

CONGRATS TO NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY ON HIS INAUGURATION: HRC-endorsed Murphy is a strong pro-equality leader who believes that no one in New Jersey — from military veterans to small business owners to aspiring parents — should be treated differently because of who they are or whom they love. He has committed to vigorously expanding and enforcing anti-bullying and LGBTQ non-discrimination protections, and recently spoke out strongly against President Trump’s unconscionable transgender military ban.

PALM SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SHARES EXPERIENCES OF BIPHOBIA: “It’s not appropriate to ask someone if they’re really sure about their sexual orientation or if they’d had experiences or if it was just one time in college, which I heard again and again in professional settings,” Palm Springs City Councilwoman Christy Gilbert Holstege says. More from Advocate.

TWO TRANSGENDER MEMBERS OF MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL INAUGURATED: Andrea Jenkins (@annapoetic) was announced as the body’s vice president. Phillipe Cunningham (@CunninghamMPLS) will serve as vice chair on the Committee of the Whole. More from Minnesota Daily.

TAIWAN GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING ADDING THIRD GENDER OPTION TO PASSPORTS AND NATIONAL IDENTITY CARDS: A government spokesperson says a final decision has yet to be made, but local LGBTQ groups are actively pushing for the change. More from Reuters.

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Valley News reports that the Claremont, N.H., library started an initiative to bring diversity and inclusion to its children’s books collection; Advocate honors the life of The Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan; Austin Statesman reviews “Sunday Church,” a new film with LGBTQ themes; ABC interviews actor Asia Kate Dillon (@AsiaKateDillon) on non-binary representation in media

HRC has previously launched the CEI internationally in Mexico, marking the historic HRC Equidad MX initiative that works with leading employers in country to create more diverse and LGBT-inclusive workplaces.

“Following the equality trend across the Americas, Chile is now taking a clear lead by investing in LGBT inclusion in the workplace, which is both fair and smart for business,” said Deena Fidas, Director of HRC Equidad MX and HRC’s Workplace Equality Program. “As we have seen in the U.S. and Mexico, more and more Latin American businesses are interested in working on LGBT diversity and inclusion. This partnership with Fundación Iguales demonstrates our commitment to deliver concrete results for LGBT employees in Chile and around the globe.”

HRC Equidad CL, HRC’s initiative with Fundación Iguales, Chile’s largest LGBT advocacy group, is designed to increase LGBT-inclusive policies and practices in workplaces across Chile, and recognize companies and U.S. multinationals for their work. Leaders from Chile’s public and private sectors have stood up to affirm the economic case for full workplace inclusion, helping drive the pioneering work being done in the country.

“Working to achieve full LGBT inclusion in Chilean society, our mission has allowed us to train workers from the public and private sectors to create LGBT-inclusive spaces,” said Emilio Maldonado, Executive Director of Fundación Iguales. “We are very proud to carry out this partnership with Human Rights Campaign and to develop better tools to promote talent and LGBT inclusion in business and companies across the nation.”

This year’s HRC Equidad CL report, developed by HRC in partnership with Fundación Iguales & Pride Connection, evaluates businesses and promotes LGBT inclusion based on three core pillars:

Adoption of nondiscrimination policies;

Creation of employee resource groups or diversity and inclusion councils; and

Engagement in public activities to support LGBT inclusion.

This innovative program in Chile is similar to the work that HRC has been doing in Mexico through HRC Equidad MX. HRC has twice launched the CEI internationally in Mexico City, where companies leading on LGBT inclusion have been using HRC’s Spanish-language business toolkit. The program provides resources to help train major employers to build LGBT-inclusive environments and implement best policies and practices in workplaces across Mexico.

Fundación Iguales has taken the lead on LGBT rights in Chile, playing a key role in the passage of the 2015 civil unions bill for same-sex couples. HRC 2016 Global Innovator and former Executive Director of Iguales, Luis Larraín, was one of the key advocates for the legislation, and is now running for congress in Chile. As a Global Innovator in 2016, Larraín was selected from a highly competitive group as one of 26 established and emerging advocates to participate in HRC’s inaugural Global Innovative Advocacy Summit.

HRC is proud to join with a number of top rated Chilean companies including Accenture, Google, IBM, J.P. Morgan Chase, Procter & Gamble, SAP, and Uber to celebrate their commitment to LGBT inclusion and adoption of vital LGBT-inclusive policies and practices.

Through its Corporate Equality Index and Global Workplace Equality Programs, the HRC Foundation has established guidelines to implement LGBT-inclusive policies for more than 14.5 million employees worldwide as well as best practices and benefits across major corporations, U.S. multinationals and top business in Latin America.

HRC TO LAUNCH 2ND EQUIDAD PROJECT TO RATE LGBTQ WORKPLACE INCLUSION IN CHILE: Tomorrow, HRC will kick off its groundbreaking partnership with Fundación Iguales & Pride Connection with an international launch of HRC’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the premier report tracking LGBT inclusion in the world’s largest companies. “Following the equality trend across the Americas, Chile is now taking a clear lead by investing in LGBT inclusion in the workplace, which is both fair and smart for business,” said Deena Fidas, Director of HRC Equidad MX and HRC’s Workplace Equality Program. “As we have seen in the U.S. and Mexico, more and more Latin American businesses are interested in working on LGBT diversity and inclusion. This partnership with Fundación Iguales demonstrates our commitment to deliver concrete results for LGBT employees in Chile and around the globe.” HRC has previously launched the CEI internationally in Mexico, marking the historic HRC Equidad MX initiative that works with leading employers in country to create more diverse and LGBT-inclusive workplaces.

HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WITH SERVICE: Yesterday, HRC members and supporters held more than 25 community service events across the country to mark Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, joining millions who honored his legacy by participating in the annual day of service. “Because our community is so diverse and expansive, there are many ways in which we can use this day to deepen our commitment and connection to those in our community who are too often at its margins,” said Nicole Cozier, HRC Director of Diversity and Inclusion. More from HRC.

AHEAD OF TRUMP’S DESPICABLE STUNT TO ATTACK THE MEDIA, 37 ARTICLES HE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO SEE: HRC is sharing stories Trump no doubt hopes you’ve missed from 2017 — those that illustrate the Trump-Pence administration’s disastrous, dangerous first year. Why 37? Because the number aligns perfectly with Trump’s record-low 37 percent approval rating. More from HRC.

TUESDAY TWEETS — HRC CELEBRATES VIRGINIA GOVERNOR RALPH NORTHAM’S SWEARING IN: HRC worked aggressively to ensure Northam and other pro-equality candidates claimed victory on Election Day. “Ralph Northam consistently campaigned on a platform of equality for all Virginians,” said JoDee Winterhof, HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs. “By electing Northam and other fair-minded candidates up and down the ballot, Virginians resoundingly rejected the Trump-Pence politics of hate, fear, and discrimination.” More from HRC.

In one of Northam’s first acts, he signed an executive order protecting state employees from discrimination — including on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. This executive order also added gender expression for the first time. More from WTOP.

“This management team can be an example to our friends in the corporate world.

HRC MOURNS VICCKY GUTIERREZ, SECOND TRANS WOMAN MURDERED IN 2018: HRC was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Viccky Gutierrez, a transgender woman from Honduras killed in what officials are calling a “suspicious” fire in her Los Angeles home early Wednesday. Friends took to social media to mourn Gutierrez, describing her as “a young trans Latina immigrant woman whose warm smile would give anyone comfort.” More from HRC and Autostraddle.

ADVOCATES CALL FOR NOTORIOUS EXPORTER OF HATE TO BE BANNED FROM ENTERING JAMAICA: Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Arizona, a Southern Poverty Law Center designated anti-LGBTQ hate group, is headed to Jamaica this month on a so called “missions trip”. “Steven Anderson is endangering LGBTQ people around the world with his reckless words and dangerous messages,” said HRC Global Director Ty Cobb (@TyWesleyCobb). “We stand in solidarity with Jamaican advocates as they tirelessly organize to counter the hateful bigotry he is peddling.” Anderson has called for gay people to be executed and, in the aftermath of the Orlando tragedy in 2017, he called LGBTQ people “perverts” and “pedophiles” and praised their murders. A petition launched by Jamaican LGBTQ activists is calling for Anderson to be banned from the island nation. More from HRC.

BILL INTRODUCED IN WASHINGTON STATE TO PROTECT YOUTH FROM SO-CALLED “CONVERSION THERAPY”: Introduced in the state Senate Health Committee, it would ban the debunked and abusive practice for anyone under 18. More from My Northwest.

HOW HATE CRIMES AFFECT ENTIRE COMMUNITIES: The Hate Crime Project at the University of Sussex released findings that show even hearing about hate crimes can have negative consequences on communities, even if they are not directly connected to the victim. More from BBC.

JESSICA PLATT IS THE FIRST TRANSGENDER WOMAN TO COME OUT IN NORTH AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY: She joins Harrison Browne, a transgender man who came out in 2016. Both the Canadian Women’s Hockey League and the National Women’s Hockey League have updated their policies regarding transgender athletes to align with International Olympic Committee rules. More from ESPN.

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The Washington Post interviews openly gay Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy (@GusKenworthy) about his powerful coming out in 2015; The New York Times reports on an analysis stating that marriage equality in Australia will boost the local wedding industry revenue by 10 percent;

Today, HRC announced that hundreds of HRC volunteers are stepping up to engage in over 25 community service events nationwide in a Day of Service. Their efforts will support local health and human services providers and organizations in cities from Philadelphia to Las Vegas. With the backing and involvement of HRC members and supporters across the country, hundreds of volunteers will take part in a variety of service projects — from making dinner and assembling care packages for LGBTQ homeless youth to assisting with a donation drive for HIV & AIDS service organizations. HRC is joining dozens of other organizations in Monday’s day of action to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the racial justice and civil rights pioneer whose leadership and dedication continue to empower people in every community.

“Today, as we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we take the time to reflect on the work we must do to realize his vision of a fair, equal and just America,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “After a year that showed the need for community engagement, empowerment and action, we must double down on our efforts to live out Dr. King’s values and stand up against attacks on all members of our community. Today we honor Dr. King with service, and we keep his spirit and vision at the center of our fight for full equality each and every day.”

Across the country, volunteers will be working with organizations that reflect the diversity of the LGBTQ community. In Cleveland, HRC volunteers will partner with Cleveland Black Pride and the NAACP, among other organizations, to support LGBTQ homeless youth. In Los Angeles, volunteers will help assemble care kits for Bienestar, an organization that provides HIV testing, counseling and support for the LGBTQ community. And in St. Louis, volunteers will assist the International Institute of St. Louis in providing support for immigrants and refugees.